Funeral service scheduled for George Beverly Shea

Published: Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 10:39 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 10:39 a.m.

MONTREAT, N.C. (AP) — The public is invited to the celebration of the life, music and ministry of Christian singer George Beverly Shea.

Services are scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at Anderson Auditorium at the Montreat Conference Center.

Shea died Tuesday at the age of 104. He'll be laid to rest in a private service on the grounds of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte on Monday. The library and grounds will be closed to the public during the service and will reopen on Tuesday.

Shea's rendition of "How Great Thou Art" was well known by a generation of Protestants who Graham evangelized. Shea joined Graham's crusade team in 1947 and stayed until Graham's declining health ended most of his public appearances nearly 60 years later.

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